Alfa Laval to Supply 60 Heat Exchangers for Moeve’s Onuba H2 Plant

Alfa Laval has been tapped by Moeve to supply 60 industrial heat exchangers for the Onuba H2 green hydrogen facility, which is located at La Rábida Energy Park, not far from Palos de la Frontera in Huelva, southern Spain. These heat exchangers are crucial for cooling the plant’s impressive 300 MW alkaline electrolysis system, gas processing modules, and overall utilities. This marks an exciting transition from plans to tangible construction after Moeve made its final investment decision earlier this spring.

Onuba H2 Kicks Off Equipment Procurement

The Onuba H2 project is the first stage of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, an ambitious green hydrogen hub spearheaded by Moeve. This initial phase features 15 standardized 20 MW alkaline electrolyzer units from thyssenkrupp nucera, combining to deliver a hefty 300 MW of capacity. Once up and running, Onuba is expected to churn out around 45,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen each year, significantly cutting down on CO₂ emissions by replacing grey hydrogen in various sectors like refining, chemicals, and fertilizers.

After getting the green light from its board earlier this year, Moeve began procuring essential and supplementary equipment, marking a commitment of over €1 billion for the first phase. The order from Alfa Laval is one of the major early equipment releases for this venture, following contracts set for electrolyzer stacks, power electronics, and civil works that kicked off in previous months.

This investment decision aligns with bolstered policy frameworks, including Spain's Hoja de Ruta del Hidrógeno Renovable and updates to national energy plans that have upped Spain’s electrolysis targets for 2030. Preliminary site work at La Rábida Energy Park began in late 2025, focusing on laying down foundations, utilities, and grid connections ahead of all the modules' arrival.

Industrial Heat Exchangers: Essential for Electrolysis Cooling

When it comes to large-scale alkaline electrolysis, managing heat is critical. This process generates quite a bit of waste heat and demands precise temperature control. Alfa Laval is stepping up with a mix of plate and shell-and-tube exchangers designed for:

• Cooling loops in the electrolyzers that keep those stack modules operating within ideal temperatures by circulating water or glycol-based fluids.
• Cooling and conditioning gases for hydrogen and oxygen after they go through compression or drying stages, contributing to the longevity of downstream equipment and ensuring they meet product specifications.
• Support for balance-of-plant utilities like power electronics and pumps that rely on auxiliary cooling to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

Each heat exchanger is designed for high heat-transfer efficiency and has a compact footprint, making it easier to fit within the existing La Rábida industrial site while minimizing the need for extra civil works.

Strategic Collaborations and Funding

The Onuba H2 project thrives on a consortium structure and a diversified funding model to reduce execution risks. Moeve holds a 51% stake, with partners like Abu Dhabi’s clean energy developer Masdar and the renewable energy arm of Enagás, called Enalter. Masdar will ensure a steady supply of renewable electricity—mostly from solar and wind sources—to classify the hydrogen as "green." Meanwhile, Enalter is working on connecting the project to Spain's up-and-coming national hydrogen backbone and potential export route, H2Med, to secure off-take opportunities for both industrial and export markets.

From a policy perspective, Onuba has gained PCI status on the EU's list and secured around €304 million in grants from Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, along with EU’s NextGenerationEU funds via the PERTE ERHA and Hydrogen Valleys programs. This funding helps cover grid upgrades and civil works, as well as part of the electrolyzer purchase, making the project's risk profile sharper.

By locking in early equipment orders—including the one from Alfa Laval for heat exchangers—the consortium is confirming alignment among technology, supply chain, and off-takers. This momentum is crucial; many past hydrogen initiatives faltered somewhere between ambition and execution, but Onuba is one of the first large-scale projects in Spain to move from theoretical planning to actual orders.

This blend of equity and grant funding showcases a shift in how hydrogen project financing is evolving in Europe, where it’s essential for public support and private investment to come together to mitigate initial risks.

Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley: A New Regional Powerhouse

Huelva is shifting gears from a petrochemical stronghold to Spain's hub for green hydrogen. With around 14 projects on the books, there’s nearly 2.3 GW of planned electrolysis and an impressive €12 billion worth of investment, covering areas like green ammonia, methanol, and e-fuels. This concentration of projects capitalizes on existing refineries, chemical plants, and port infrastructures to cater to both domestic decarbonization efforts and international export demands.

Moeve's broader vision for the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley aims to achieve 2 GW of electrolysis capacity split between Huelva and San Roque in Cádiz, aiming for up to 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Once paired with the future H2Med and national pipeline connections, this valley approach integrates production, transport, and consumption, potentially setting a solid example for hydrogen infrastructure and circular economy clusters.

Local studies suggest that thousands of jobs—both direct and indirect—will emerge during both construction and operational phases, with regional authorities viewing hydrogen as a key driver for economic rejuvenation and strategic self-sufficiency in clean energy.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Even with this promising momentum, some serious challenges lie ahead:

• Grid constraints: Upgrading transmission lines to handle fluctuating renewable power and the hefty loads from electrolysis is no small task, which might slow down progress.
• Water demand: Cooling electrolyzers and providing feedstock can put pressure on local water supplies, and the disposal of brine raises environmental concerns in the estuary area.
• Off-taker commitments: Although demand from refineries and chemical facilities provides stability, the broader merchant markets for hydrogen and its by-products are still in their early stages.
• Regulatory stability: As subsidy frameworks evolve, the structuring of long-term hydrogen purchase agreements will significantly impact the predictability of revenues.

How Onuba and its partners tackle these issues will be key in determining the viability of large-scale green hydrogen valleys across Spain and even Europe.

Looking Ahead

With Alfa Laval’s heat exchangers on their way, Onuba H2 is moving from concept to concrete assembly. As these exchangers, electrolyzer stacks, and renewable energy sources converge at La Rábida, Huelva positions itself as a hub for zero-emission energy. The success of this project will be a litmus test for whether integrated hydrogen valleys can span the gap between policy dreams and real-world industrial applications, potentially setting new standards for large-scale hydrogen production and advancing regional hydrogen infrastructure.

Will Onuba H2 pave the way for future green hydrogen hubs and create scalable export routes? Only time will tell if southern Spain can truly live up to its potential as a leader in Europe’s clean hydrogen revolution.